Single cable ropeway



July 6, 1954 Filed Oct. 18, 1951 M. DUMUR SINGLE CABLE ROPEWAY 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI "AR 0 IDuMuIt July 6, 1954 M. DUMUR SINGLECABLE ROPEWAY 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1951 INVENTOR:

MRRQ Dum g Patented July 6, 1954 SINGLE CABLE ROPEWAY Marc v Dumur,Gully, Switzerland, assignor to Giovanola Freres S. A., Clos Douroux,Monthey, Canton of Valais, Switzerland, a firm of SwitzerlandApplication October 18, 1951, Serial No. 251,950

Claims priority, application Switzerland January 10, 1951 My inventionhas for its object a single cable ropeway including a carriage providedon one hand with jaws adapted to clamp automatically the driving andcarrying cable and on the other hand a suspension device carryingequipment for the transportation of passengers.

My improved ropeway is characterized by the fact that at least one ofthe jaws is connected positively with a slider guided inside a slidewayof the carriage, while the suspension member or device is adapted tomove vertically inside a guide provided on the rope railway carriage;the connection between the suspension member and the slider beingensured by an oblique slideway provided on one of said members, andcooperating with a transmitting stud, provided on the other member, thesuspension member being provided moreover with a bearing member such asa lateral roller that is adapted to provide its rising movement throughits temporary engage ment with a stationary disconnecting sloped track,the object of this arrangement being to provide for transient release ofthe jaws under the action of the rising of the suspension member insideits casing or guiding member while the load urges the suspensiondownwardly and provides for the resumed tightening of said jaws.

Accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a preferredembodiment of my invention. Insaid drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are general elevational views of the arrangement accordingto the invention as seen respectively from the side and from the front.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the carriage, part of which is omitted.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the carriage through the axis of theslider.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a carriage including a partial sectional viewthrough line V-V of Fig. 3.

The suspension rod l on the ropeway carries a double seat cabin 2arranged in a manner such that when inoperative the center of gravityof.

the load registers with a vertical line passing through the axis of thecarrier and driving cable 3.

The suspension rod I is connected with a carriage 4-6 provided withrollers 5 which are adapted to run over upper and lower stationary rails31 and 38 that are provided at each station but'not between stations.The side frames 4 of the carriage are rigid with a transverse plate -6forming one piece with a hub 1. A stationary jaw 8 is secured to thecarriage plate 6 while the huh I has an inner cylindrical surface 5Claims. (Cl. 104-211) provided with an anti-friction lining 9 inside 8which may rotate the coaxial horizontal hollow arm Ill of a guidingmember l0-l6 (Fig. 4) assuming the shape of 'a hollow box-shapedstructure. A slider I I having a longitudinally extending body iscarried inside the arm l0 through the agency of an anti-friction lining;said arm l0 forms thus a normally horizontal slideway for the slider ll.Said slider is provided on its right hand side as shown in Fig. 4 withan extension I2 forming a pivot adapted to revolve inside acorresponding perforation provided in the bent flange of the movable jawl3, said flange being held over the pivot l2 in one direction by anelastic washer l4 fitted in a groove at the end of the pivot 12 and inthe other direction by a ball bearing 33.

The jaws 8 and I3 are shaped in a manner such as to be capable ofclamping the cable 3 over the major part of its periphery.

The vertical walls of the arm 16 forming part of the guide l0l6 engagewith a slight clearance two parallel arms l1 forming upwardly directedextensions of the suspension rod I. Each of the arms I! is provided onits outer surface with a recess assuming the shape of a'gutter withvertical walls, the sides [8 of which form races for the correspondingrollers l9 rigid with spindles mounted in the ball bearings 20providedin the adjacent sides of the guiding member l6.

Furthermore, the arms H are provided with elongated slots 2| registeringwith each other and arranged obliquely with reference to the slidewayH). The slider II (Fig. 5) carries transverse trunnions or studs 22fitted through the agency of needle bearings 23 inside the oblique slots2|.

One of the vertical arms I1 is provided outwardly with notches orserrations 24 assuming a saw-tooth shape (Fig. 3) the guide I 6 carriesa bracket 25 serving as a bearing for a spindle 26 to which is keyed abell crank the lower arm 2'! of which is adapted to engage the notches24 under the action of two coil springs 28. The arrangement includingparts 24 to 28 forms a collapsible locking device.

The suspension rod I carries through a ball bearing having a horizontalaxis, a bearing roller 30 extending underneath the guiding member IS.

The ropeway described hereinabove operates as follows: I

During normal operation the parts occupy the positions illustrated inFigs. 3 and 5.

Under the action of gravity, the suspension rod lwith its upper arms I!assumes its lowermost 3 position with reference to the carriage (Fig.3). The oblique slots 2| exert consequently a horizontal stress in thedirection of the arrow F-I on the trunnions. 22 of the slider I I.Through its shoulder 32 and the ball bearing 33 engaged thereby saidslider transmits the thrust in said direction F-I to the jaw I3 that isthus urged against the cable 3 and clamps it in association with the jaw8.

In the case of a light load capable of being submitted to a swingingmovement under the action of the Wind, the suspension rod I may have atendency to rise inside the guiding member It, but this would beprevented by the engagement of the serration 24 with the lever arm 2%.

Each station of the ropeway is provided with angle bars 39 adapted torelease the means looking the suspension rod through action on the upperarm 40 of the lever 2l40 to rookut-he latter in the direction of thearrow F-3, when the "carriage of the ropeway enters the station.:Consequently, the lower arm 21 of said lever 23-40 .disengages the.serration 24 which allows the rod extensions W to slide verticallyinside the guiding member I6.

Immediately after the collapse of the :bent lever 21-40 the bearingroller 30 and the suspension rod 1 are gradually raised by adisconnecting sloped track 36 carried by the framework forming thestation, whereby the carriage of the'ropeway executes a slight upwardmovement with respect to the cable 3 owing to the slope of the track 36being different from the cable incline at the station. At the same time,the rollers 5 of the tearriage are guided by the rails 31 and 38 thatare adapted to hold the carriage in the desired position. By reason ofthe rising movement of the suspension rod I, the oblique slots 2| exerton the trunnions 22 a thrust in the direction of thearrow F-2 that urgesthe jaw I3 away from the cable 3. The guiding rails 37! raise slightlythe carriage whereby the jaws 8 and I3 also rise and enter ,a levelabovethe cable 3.

,For restarting the carriage system, the disconnecting track 36 isdownwardly operated from beneath the bearing roller 30 by means that arenot illustrated. At substantially the same time, the

carriage-releasing angle bar 39 is downwardly actuated to release thelever 48. Then, the lever arm is again urged by spring 28 on theserration 24. In the meantime, the carriage has advanced over thedownwardly sloping rails 3'1 and 38 so that it may be loweredsufiiciently for the jaws 8 and I3 to return into the level registeringwith the location of the cable 3. This loweringqmotion .of the carriageis almost simultaneous with a vertical downward sliding of theextensions I1 in the guiding member I6, the track 36 being operatedasabove described, so that the jaw I3 reengages the cable 3 under theaction of the slider .II, urg d :by the trunnions 22 in the direction ofthe ,arrow F-I.

The sliding movement of the extensions 17 of the suspension rod I insidethe guiding member I6 are-executed with a very slight friction,as-during the upward movement of the suspension :rod with reference tothe carriage, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the left hand bearings I8:run over the rollers I9 and when the rod sinks, the right hand bearingsll run over the rollers.

What I claim is:

1. In a .ropeway operated by a single cable 'between a plurality ofstations, the provision of ,a carriage adapted to run on guiding railsat :said stations, twojaws one of which is rigid with the carriage andthe other is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverseand horizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted toclamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriageand adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely on thecarriage, a slider adapted to slide inside the slideway, a swivellinglink connectingsaid slider with the movable jaw, a vertical ,guidewayprovided in the carriage and in which the suspension means are slidinglycarried, a connection between the suspension means and the sliderincluding a slotted member the slot in which is oblique with referenceto the vertical and a transmitting stud engaging the slot,

said slotted member and transmitting stud carried respectively by one ofthe following parts, the suspension means and the slider, a verticallyreciprocable disconnecting track adapted to take an upper and a lowerposition at each station of the ropeway, .sa-id track being sloped upwith respect :to said cable at :each station, so that in its upperposition said track is adapted to raise the Suspension means as itpasses into-a station, the raising .of the suspension means acting onthe slider through the slotted member and said transmitt-mg studs tourge the slider and movable jaw away from the first Jaw, the lowering ofthe suspension means and load under the action of gravity rat ;a pointbeyond :the disconnecting track at each station returning the :sliderand jaw into their operative cable clamping positions.

:2. In a ropeway operated by .a single cable be tween a plurality ofstations, the provision of a carriage adapted to run on guiding rails atsaid stations, two jaws one ,of which is rigid with the carriage and theother is slidably carried thereon to move in a direction transverse andhorizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted toclamp the .cable :between them, suspension means mounted on saidoarriage and adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely,on the carriage, a slider adapted to slide :inside the slideway, .aswivelling link connecting said slider with the movable jaw, a verticalguideway provided in the carriage and in chtthe Suspension means areslidingly-carried, said guideway extending at right angles acrosstheslideway, the suspension means including two vertical extensionsrigid ivith the upper end thereof and engaging the guideway, saidextension being located respectively to the front and to the .rear ofthe ,slider and provided with elongated slots oblique with reference tothe vertical and registering With each other, said .slider carrying atleast one transmitting roller arranged 12kt right angles to saidslideway and engaging the slots in the extensions, va verticallyreciprocable disconnecting track adapted to take an upper and a lowerposition at .each station, said track :being sloped up with respect to:said cable, so that in its upper position, said track is adapted toraise the suspension means in the guiding member as it passes into .a:station, the raising of the suspension means acting on the sliderthrough the slotted extensions and roller system to urge the slider andmovable jaw away from the first jaw, the lowerin of the suspension meansand load under the action ,of gravity at a point beyond thedisconnecting track at each station returning the slider and jaw intotheir operative cable :clamping positions.

3. In aropewayoperated by ,a single cable :between a plurality ,ofstations, the provision of a carriage ,adapted to run on guiding railsat said stations, two jaws one of which is rigid with the carriage andthe other is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverseand horizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted toclamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriageand adapted to carry the load, a slider adapted to slide inside theslideway and pivotally connected with the movable jaw, a verticalguideway provided in the carriage and in which the suspension means areslidingly carried, said guideway extending at right angles across theslideway, the suspension means including two vertical extensions rigidwith the upper end thereof and engaging the guideway, said extensionsbeing located respectively to the front and to the rear of the sliderand provided with elongated slots oblique with reference to the verticaland registering with each other, said extensions being provided on theirouter surface with a guttershaped recess having vertical side wallsforming races, said guideway being provided with vertical rollersengaging either race in the corresponding recess, said slider carryingat least one transmitting roller arranged at right angles to saidslideway and engaging the slots in the extensions, a verticallyreciprocable disconnecting track adapted to take an upper and a lowerposition at each station, said track being sloped up with respect to thetravelling cable and adapted, in its upper position, to raise thesuspension means as it passes into a station considered, the raising ofthe suspension means acting on the slider through the slotted extensionand transmitting roller system to urge the slider and movable jaw awayfrom the first jaw, the lowering of the suspension means and load underthe action of gravity at a point beyond the disconnecting sloped trackat each station returning the slider and jaw into their operative cableclamping positions.

4. In a ropeway operated by a single cable between a plurality ofstations, the provision of a carriage adapted to run on guiding rails atsaid stations, two jaws one of which is rigid with the carriage and theother is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverse andhorizontally with reference to the cableysaid .iaws being adapted toclamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriageand adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely on thecarriage, a slider adapted to slide inside the slideway and pivotallyconnected with the movable jaw, a vertical guideway provided in thecarriage and in which the suspension means are slidingly carried,collapsible looking means fitted partly on the suspension means andpartly on the guideway to hold the suspension means in their lowermostposition for constantly urging the jaws into their cable clampingposition between said stations, means carried by each station forreleasing said locking means, as the carriage passes said releasingmeans, the sus pension means including a slotted member the slot inwhich is oblique with reference to the vertical and a transmitting studengaging the slot, said slotted member and stud being carriedrespectively by one of the following parts,

the suspension means and the slider, a disconnecting track at eachstation of the ropeway, said track being adapted to be given a lower andan upper position in which latter it is adapted to raise the suspensionmeans as it passes into a station, the raising of the suspension meansacting on the slider through the slotted member and transmitting stud tourge the slider and movable jaw away from the first jaw, the lowering ofthe suspension means and load under the action of gravity at a pointbeyond the disconnecting track at each station returning the slider andjaw into their operative cable clamping positions.

'5. In a ropeway operated by a single cable between a plurality ofstations, the provision of a carriage adapted to run on guiding rails,at said stations, two jaws one of which is rigid with the carriage andthe other is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverseand horizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted toclamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriageand adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely on thecarriage, a slider adapted to slide inside the slideway and pivotallyconnected with the movable jaw, a vertical guideway provided in thecarriage and in which the suspension means are slidingly carried,collapsible locking means fitted partly on the suspension means andpartly on the guideway to hold the suspension means in their lowermostposition forconstantly urging the jaws into their cable clampingposition between the stations, said locking means including a leverpivotally secured to the guideway, a serration provided on thesuspension means, a spring urging one arm of said lever into lockingengagement with said serration and a stationary releasing collapsiblebar at each station adapted to transiently rock said lever out of itsoperative position, as the carriage passes past said releasing bar, aconnection between the sus pension means and the slider including aslotted member the slot of which is oblique with reference to thevertical and a transmitting stud engaging the slot, said slotted memberand stud being carried respectively by one of the following parts, thesuspension means and the slider, a disconnecting track sloped up withrespect to the cable and arranged to be given a lower position and anupper position in which said track is adapted to raise the suspensionmeans as the carriage passes into a station, said releasing bar at eachstation being located before said disconnecting track in the travellingdirection of the carriage, so that the raising of the suspension meansis made possible, such raising acting on the slider through the slottedmember and transmitting stud system to urgethe slider and movable jawaway from the first jaw, the lowering of the suspension means and loadunder the action of gravity at a point beyond the disconnecting slopedtrack at each station returning the slider and jaw into their operativecable clamping positions.

No references cited.

